PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rick Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hunter
vs
Stevens

165 cm
27
140 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

177 cm
20
140 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kevin Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevens tries to clinch up but Hunter circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunter misses with a head kick.
Stevens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stevens wants to clinch up but Hunter keeps it at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Stevens as Hunter shoots in.

Hunter drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stevens can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stevens controlling the position.
Stevens wants to stand up but Hunter is controlling him.
Stevens wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Stevens wants to stand up but Hunter is controlling him.
Stevens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kevin Stevens wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stevens wants to clinch up but Hunter keeps it at a distance.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stevens.

Hunter pushes Stevens up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter tries to pull guard but Stevens forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hunter on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Hunter's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stevens landing knees to the body.
Our sources have told us that Hunter has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Hunter managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunter is defending well for now.
Hunter tries to pull guard but Stevens won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Hunter fails to pull guard.
Knees to the body from Stevens.
Stevens lands a knee to the head.
Hunter blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Stevens obliges.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunter managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.
Hunter fails to pull guard.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Hunter on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hunter jumps guard but Stevens turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Stevens with a knee to the head.
Hunter takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hunter is trying to pull guard but Stevens has him pressed against the cage.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunter avoids it.
Stevens landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hunter is breathing heavily.
Stevens landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hunter jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stevens walks away with a smile on his face. Hunter gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stevens tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hunter keeps the fight on the outside.

Stevens has closed the distance and engaged Hunter in a clinch.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunter is defending well for now.
Hunter avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunter avoids it.
Hunter blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hunter avoiding damage.
Hunter avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hunter.
Stevens scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter is trying to pull guard but Stevens has him pressed against the cage.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Hunter tries to break free but Stevens pushes him back against the cage.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the head but Hunter blocks with his arms.
Stevens putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hunter in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hunter blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hunter managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Stevens obliges.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunter is defending well for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stevens lands a nice knee to the body.
Hunter avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunter is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Stevens dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hunter has managed to clinch.
Hunter on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hunter blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hunter is trying to pull guard but Stevens turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Hunter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevens slaps away a takedown attempt from Hunter, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stevens tries to clinch up but Hunter circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevens tries to clinch up.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hunter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hunter tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hunter is defended easily by Stevens.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens tries to clinch there but Hunter circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevens has managed to clinch.
Stevens lands a knee to the body.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunter is defending well for now.
Hunter wants a takedown but no success here.
Knees to the body from Stevens.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Stevens obliges.
Stevens landing knees to the body.
Stevens lands a nice knee to the body.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunter avoids the damage to the body.
Stevens unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hunter lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunter avoids it.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunter avoids the damage to the body.
Hunter avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunter avoids it.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunter avoids the damage to the body.
Stevens using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Hunter managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.
Kevin Stevens seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunter avoids it.
Stevens is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunter avoids the damage to the body.
Stevens unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Stevens lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunter avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunter avoids the damage to the body.
Stevens crunches a lovely knee into Hunter's ribcage.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hunter blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Hunter avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunter avoids the damage to the body.

Hunter manages to break the clinch.
Stevens is looking to clinch but Hunter is avoiding it.
Stevens stuffs the takedown attempt from Hunter. Hunter gets slowly back to his feet.
Kevin Stevens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hunter swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter digs a good body shot into Stevens's ribs.
Hunter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevens tries to clinch there but Hunter circles away.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hunter paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Stevens fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hunter, pushing him back against the cage.
Stevens throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hunter.
Hunter working hard to break the clinch.
Stevens scores with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunter can't get the takedown.
Stevens stops a takedown attempt from Hunter.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunter is defending well for now.
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunter is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Stevens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Stevens closes the distance and clinches.
Hunter on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Hunter avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stevens misses with a knee to the head.
Hunter managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.
Stevens prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stevens landing knees to the body.

Hunter pulls guard.
Stevens throws a big elbow that misses.
Stevens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hunter is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevens stops Hunter from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kevin Stevens wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stevens fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Stevens doesn't manage to clinch there - Hunter circles away.

Hunter instigates a clinch.
Stevens stops a takedown attempt from Hunter.
Hunter avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Hunter on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hunter tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stevens smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hunter swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens moves into the clinch successfully.
Hunter has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stevens lands a good knee to the midsection. Hunter won't want to take too many of those.
Stevens lands a knee to the body.
Stevens misses with a knee strike.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Stevens is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunter is defending well for now.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunter avoids it.
Stevens landing knees to the head.
Stevens landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hunter.
Hunter wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hunter is trying to pull guard but Stevens turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stevens with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stevens is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hunter avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Hunter avoiding damage as Stevens throws knees to the body.
Stevens using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hunter has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hunter is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stevens scores a nice knee to the body.
Stevens landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunter avoids it.
Hunter looking for a takedown.
Stevens unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevens tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunter avoids the damage to the body.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Hunter managing to block the knees to the body from Stevens.
A knee to the head by Stevens.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hunter.
Rick Hunter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevens unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hunter lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stevens misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hunter.
Stevens utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stevens.
Kevin Stevens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stevens blocks an elbow strike from Hunter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Stevens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stevens has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Stevens!
During a confident post fight interview, Kevin Stevens thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.